As the muted morning sunlight streamed through the window, painting the room in soft, pastel hues, Charlie began to emerge from his sleep. He steeled himself for the wave of muscle soreness he fully expected to hit him after yesterday's punishing training regime. But to his shock, his body didn't feel like a battleground of aches and pains. Instead, an unfamiliar lightness filled his limbs, as if they were unshackled from their usual heavyweight. The expected stiffness and throb of pain, the typical aftermath of such strenuous exertion, were strikingly absent. His brow furrowed in bafflement as he cautiously swung his legs over the edge of the bed, ready to test the steadiness of his body. There was no searing pain or oppressive discomfort, only the sensation of being somehow...lighter. Like the burdens of his efforts had been miraculously lifted, leaving behind an almost surreal sense of ease. Charlie's mind whirred, scrambling to find a logical explanation for this unexpected break from his norm. Could his cerebral palsy, the condition that had set the boundaries of his physical capabilities all his life, have been altered by this odd system?
As he pondered, a flicker of hope ignited within Charlie, as he slowly realized that today's early morning struggle to get out of bed was minutely less gruelling than it used to be. Used to the constraints and hurdles imposed by his cerebral palsy, the subtle easing of his usual morning routine was a revelation. The familiar tightness and struggle that usually accompanied his movements seemed dulled, replaced by a glimmer of fluidity and grace. His mind raced, trying to make sense of this unforeseen change. Could it be a result of his intense training session with Ryan yesterday? Had his hard work started showing effects this soon? It seemed too good to be true, but the undeniable evidence of this minor triumph could not be overlooked. As he stood there, bewildered by the lack of pain and the strange comfort enveloping his body, his focus was pulled towards a faint blinking at the edge of his field of vision, signalling a new notification.
You have displayed exceptional resilience and determination in your rigorous training session, pushing beyond the limits that your body’s condition imposes.
As a result, your constitution has increased by 1 point!
Your relentless effort and commitment have demonstrated that you can overcome obstacles and achieve feats that defy expectations. While your cerebral palsy debuff poses challenges, it is clear that your inner strength knows no bounds.
It is important to note that further gains in constitution outside of free attribute points may be limited for the time being, given the nature of your cerebral palsy debuff.
A jumble of excitement and disbelief coursed through Charlie as he hastily opened his stat sheet, his fingers barely managing to keep steady amidst the anticipation. His gaze darted across the page, hunting for the one thing he dared to hope for. And there it was—a definite, unambiguous increase in his constitution by a single, yet significant point. A wave of joy swept over him, the realisation that his efforts were already bearing fruit far sooner than he'd imagined and that his body held a potential he'd never given it credit for.
Charlie's face lit up with a smile, his mind alight with the myriad of possibilities this opened up. If one day of hardcore training could foster such growth, then what untold improvements could a week yield? The thought filled him with an invigorated resolve, a steeled determination to drive himself even further. Without a second's pause, Charlie sprang from his room, buoyed by a desire to share his breakthrough with Ryan. His steps, usually hesitant and cautious, resounded with newfound confidence as he moved towards their makeshift training ground. The flutter of anticipation in his chest grew with every passing second. He was acutely aware that the day ahead held another round of gruelling training, yet instead of the usual trepidation, a sense of exhilarating excitement coursed through him. He was not just ready, but eager to face the challenge and push his limits, his fear now overtaken by the thrill of what lay ahead.
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Feeling like a total moron, Charlie mentally kicked himself for having underestimated the magnitude of the day's training. He had naively expected that with the notch up in his constitution, the session would be tough but nothing he couldn't handle. He hadn't bargained for Ryan, caught up in their mutual fervour, pushing him far beyond his comfort zone. The morning sun cast long, golden streaks across their training spot as Charlie found himself embroiled in an arduous series of squats. His armour, which he'd gotten somewhat used to, now felt as if it had morphed into an implacable weight overnight. Each squat elicited agonised cries from his protesting muscles, his entire body trembling under the intensity of it all.
He grunted and moaned, battling the discomfort while his mind filled up with nagging doubts and spiralling frustrations. Just why had he thought yesterday was rough? Today's workout made the previous one feel like a stroll in the park. His armour felt like an unbearable mountain crushing him, relentless in its pressure. Sweat dripped from his forehead, mixing with the accumulated dirt and grime from the morning. Each ragged breath was a fight, the air seeming thick and unyielding. Amidst this state of utter fatigue, Charlie's thoughts kept reverting back to the morning's revelation. Was the Constitution increase just some cruel prank, mocking him with a false sense of hope?
When lunchtime finally rolled around, Charlie's legs were jelly, quivering with exhaustion. He had signed up for a marathon morning workout and the thought of sword practice lined up for the afternoon was downright terrifying. After enduring hours of ceaseless physical exertion, he found himself silently cursing Ryan—wasn't he supposed to be his supportive older brother rather than some sadistic trainer? As he threw up his breakfast, Charlie questioned how he would muster the strength to carry on. But deep down, he knew this was all for his own good. After taking a moment to steady his shaky breaths, Charlie voiced his thoughts to Ryan. He expressed his doubts that focusing solely on boosting strength might not be the most effective strategy. Charlie reminded his brother that his strength had started at a comparatively higher level than his constitution, which would potentially make it harder to see significant growth. Instead, he proposed a switch in their focus to his lowest stat at the moment—dexterity.
Charlie insisted that working on his balance and coordination might be the smarter play at this point. If he were to be in a dungeon, for instance, tripping or losing his balance mid-battle could mean game over. It wasn't just about muscling through; survival demanded quickness and light-footedness. Ryan seemed to soak up his words, and from the looks of it, he seemed to be considering them. Charlie's argument made sense, and Ryan, being the strategic thinker he was, would likely agree that a rounded skillset would be crucial to their mission. After a beat, Ryan nodded, the corners of his mouth pulling into what Charlie recognized as his 'problem-solving' smile. He told Charlie to grab a break while he rejigged their afternoon training plans.
Hunger gnawing at his stomach, Charlie headed for the kitchen, ready for a much-needed lunch. His mom had just made his all-time favourite, a peanut butter and banana sandwich. The familiarity of it brought a comforting sense of normalcy. He sat down at the kitchen table, watching as his mom set the sandwich down before him and took a seat next to him. She looked worried, her eyes scanning his face as though searching for answers. She finally broke the silence, "Charlie, what's going on?" Her voice was soft but laced with concern.
Charlie took a moment to gather his thoughts. He had to explain things without giving away too much. Seeing his mom's worried eyes, he knew he needed to choose his words carefully. "I've been dealing with some stuff, Mom," he began, his voice tinged with honesty. "You know Max, right? He's been getting under my skin, making me feel like I'm not enough. And I've had enough. I want to be able to stand up for myself. Plus, my doctors have been saying for a while that exercise could help with my condition," he added, hoping to alleviate his mother's concerns. "It might improve things like muscle tone and coordination. So, I've decided to give it a shot, and see if it can make a difference."
As Charlie spoke, he saw his mom's expression soften. She was his biggest cheerleader, always there to back him up. Gently, she reached out to touch his hand, reassuring him, "Charlie, I want you to be happy and confident. Just promise me that you won't push yourself too hard. Your well-being is the most important thing." Charlie nodded, grateful for his mom's understanding and support. He knew he needed to balance his drive with self-care. After all, his journey required not just determination but caution, too.
A smile tugged at the corners of Charlie's mom's mouth, "So," she said, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief, "Ryan convinced your dad and me to learn D&D. Any idea what kind of character I should play?" A spark of excitement ignited in Charlie's eyes, his heartwarming with the realization that his family was beginning to embrace his love for tabletop role-playing games. A chuckle slipped past his lips as he relished the opportunity to share his knowledge with his mom. For the following thirty minutes, they plunged headlong into the maze of character builds, dissecting the various classes, races, and abilities, laughing and bonding over a shared enthusiasm, painting vivid mental pictures of the adventures awaiting them in the worlds of their imagination. As their character ideas started to form, Charlie excused himself, knowing he had to get back to the afternoon training session. As he made his way outside, a newfound sense of resolve surged within him, his conviction not just fueled by the physical training, but also by the love and support of his family.
Stepping outside, Charlie stopped short, eyes wide at the sight that met him. Instead of Ryan waiting in his armour for the usual sword practice, the training area was completely revamped. It now featured agility ladders, cones, and even slalom poles usually meant for dog training. Charlie quickly realized Ryan had taken his suggestion about focusing on dexterity seriously and modified their training regimen. After taking a moment to take in the transformation, Charlie braced himself for the new challenge. He knew that enhancing his balance and coordination was key for his upcoming dungeon quests and dealing with the curveballs of everyday life. As he started his afternoon session, he realized it was far more intense than he had expected. The weight of his armour, combined with the morning's exhaustive exercises, made each step feel like moving through molasses. His balance was already a tad off, and the new obstacles tested his limits.
As he fumbled with the agility ladder, his foot snagged on a cone, causing him to trip. Each stumble was a stark reminder of his limitations, but he fought back the urge to wallow in frustration. He realized that these trials were an integral part of his journey to strength, both physical and mental. Every time he fell, he pushed himself back up, dusted off his armour, and soldiered on. His gaze remained resolute, refusing to let the challenges impede his path to progress. He understood that improvement wasn't going to be a walk in the park, but he was ready to face the music.
As the sun painted the sky with shades of the evening, Charlie could see Ryan watching him from the sidelines, his usually stoic face softened, eyes glistening in the waning light. Charlie knew his brother well enough to recognize the emotion welling up within Ryan. Time and again, Charlie picked himself up from the dust, his willpower undeterred by the day’s trials. Looking at Ryan, he could almost feel his brother's surging pride, his unspoken approval resonating in the space between them. Seeing Ryan, Charlie felt a sense of validation, believing his older brother saw the potential in him, despite the trials that lurked ahead.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
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The heaviness of fatigue clung to Charlie as the day drew to a close, Charlie found himself in the sanctuary of his room. His heart fluttered with mixed feelings at the thought of what was to come. His pals, Ellie, Carter, and Tyler, were waiting for him online in the world of Warcraft, a game they had once spent hours engrossed in together. It had been a couple of days since they had last chatted, and the prospect of diving back into the familiar world of quests and battles had been an exciting topic of conversation.
But instead of meeting up in person as they usually would, Charlie had proposed they reconnect in the game. The reason he gave was simple and not entirely false - he wanted to spend more time with his brother, Ryan, who had just returned after being away for several months. But underlying his excitement at the thought of gaming with his friends and his parents joining in their D&D campaign, a knot of apprehension sat heavy in his gut.
Saturday morning, the day he had mentally marked to step into the perilous dungeon, was looming. It was a grim reminder of the life-or-death reality he was about to face. The fear of not returning gnawed at his conscience, making him question his decision to prioritize his training over the treasured moments with his friends. The choice was tough, one that left his heart heavy with an emotional conflict.
As Charlie joined his friends in the virtual realm of Warcraft, he found it challenging to quell the urge to reveal everything. But he knew the truth - his tales of the system, the ring of holding, would probably sound too fantastical without any real proof. Sure, he had shown Ryan the ring, but sharing it with his friends seemed like a potential distraction that he couldn’t afford. The saying “two heads are better than one” echoed in the back of his mind, but he also understood the potential chaos that could ensue from sharing his secret with five different individuals. Thus, with a firm resolve, he drowned himself in the joy of the gaming night - engaging in battles, pursuing quests, and sharing laughter, cherishing the moments they spent together, leaving the looming challenges at bay, if only for a while.
As the evening wore on, the inviting comfort of his bed tugged at him. After bidding his friends goodnight, Charlie retreated into the peaceful silence of his room. As he sank into his bed, fatigue enveloped him, a soothing reminder of the sleep he desperately needed.